Collapsible device



E; J. STONE 2 ,409,452

COLLAPSIBLE DEVICE Filed March 6, 1945 zinmmni a 22 W75. w w *6 4. v

INVENTOR.

EDMUND J. 5 TONE Arr'nkugr,

Patented Oct. 15, 1946 COLLAPSIBLE DEVICE Edmund J. Stone, New York, N. Y. Y

Application March 6, 1945, Serial No. 581,284

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to collapsible or foldable devices and more particularly to a device having foldable means joining together sections of the device.

It is an object of the present invention to join together sections of a member, such as, a rod, staff, or stick by means of a foldable connection whereby the member may be folded with the sections in substantially parallel relation or the member extended with the sections connected together in alinement.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a joint for connecting together two sections of a member, the joint having a part fixed with relation to one of the sections and another part slidable Within the other of the sections, the two parts being pivotally connected to a link, so that the two sections may be brought into side-by-side relation, and the fixed part and link being extendible within the said other of the sections so that both sections may be brought into contiguous alined relation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for maintaining the said sections in contiguous alinement.

Further objects of the present invention will appear from the following disclosure thereof together with the attached drawing which illustrates certain forms of embodiment thereof. These forms are shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, and it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View illustrating a cane or walking stick embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the stick shown in Fig. l, in folded condition;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal detail sectional View of the center portion of the stick shown in Fig. 1, and disclosing the connecting joint;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the center portion of the stick with parts of the connecting joint extended relative to the sections of the stick and the sections disposed at an angle with respect to each other; and

Fig. 5 is a view of a tripod embodying the invention, one of the legs being seen in partially foldable condition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing which by way of examples, only, there is dislegs, etc., wherein it is desired that adjacent sections be disposed either-in tandem and secured in this relation or side by side to confine the article or device in less linear space.

The cane or walking stick I0 is seen as comprising two sections I2 and I3 joined together at I4. A handle I5 may be attached to section I2. The abutting end portions I2a and. I3a of sections I 2, I3 are hollow to accommodate parts of the swingable joint connection generally indicated by the numeral IB.

Connection I6 comprises a pin or shaft I'I rigidly secured within the hollow I8 of section I3. Shaft I'I has a reduced threaded projection i9 extending without section I3 and being provided with a pair of spaced perforated earsor lugs 26 to which is pivotally or swingably connected by means of pin 2| one end of a link 22. A shaft 25 has at one of its ends a pair of spaced perforated ears 26 to which is pivotally or swingably connected by means of a pin 21, the other end of link 22.

Secured within the hollow 3|] of section I2 is an internaly threaded thimble or bushing 3| preferably having an enlarged tapering opening 32 at its inner end. Shaft 25 is arranged for sliding within bushing 3| and is provided with an enlargement 33 at its free end providing a stop adapted to abut against the inner end of bushing 3|. Link 22 is of such siZe as to pass through the threaded opening of bushing 3| following shaft 25; and the threads of projection I9 are adapted to engage the threads of bushing 3|, as clearly seen in Fig. 3.

Let it be assumed that the sections I2 and I3 are in alined abutting relation as seen in Fig. 1, at which time projection I9 is in screw-threaded engagement with bushing 3| and shaft 25 and link 22 are housed within the hollow 3!] of member I2 beyond bushing 3|.

If it is desired to fold the cane or walking stick so as to place he same, say, for example, in a valise, suit case or the like, section I2 is disengaged from section I3 by unthreading projection I9 from bushing 3| and pulling on section I3. Shaft 25 projects from the socket or bushing 3| and the link 22 and extension It are wholly disengaged from section I2.

Fig. 4 shows the disposition of the connecting joint parts when the sections I2 and I3 are relatively at right angles during the folding operation and Fig. 2 shows the relation of the sections of the cane when the latter is almost in complete folded position. The tapering or conical opening 32 prevents possible binding or impediment of parts of the joint, particularly at the pivoted points, during withdrawal thereof.

Referring to Fig. 5, it is evident that substantially the same type of connecting joint may be employed for making the legs of a tripod foldable,

As changes of construction could be made within the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an article of manufacture two members, each of said members having a hollow end portion, and means connecting said members together at said end portions, said means comprising an internally threaded tubular element fitting into one of said end portions, said element being less in length than the depth of said hollow whereby a space is provided beyond said element, a shaft movable in said space and having its forward portion extendible from said element, stop means preventing said shaft from leaving said space, a stud fixed to the other of said members, said stud having a threaded extension adapted to threadedly engage said element, and a link pivotally connected to adjacent ends of said shaft and said extension, said shaft and said link being adapted to pass through said element into said space permitting threaded engagement of said element and said extension.

2. In an article of manufacture two members, one of said members having a tubular internally threaded portion and being hollow beyond said portion providing a cavity, and means connecting said members together at said threaded portion and at an end of the other of said members, said means comprising a shaft movable in said cavity and extendible from said threaded portion, stop means preventing said shaft from being withdrawn from said threaded portion, an element fixed to said end of said other of said members, said element having a threaded extension adapted to threadedly engage said threaded portion, and a link pivotally connected to adjacent ends of said shaft and said extension, said shaft and said link being adapted to pass through said element into said cavity permitting threaded engagement of said threaded portion and said extension.

3. An article of manufacture comprising two members, one of said members having ashollow portion, an internally threaded sleeve in said hollow portion, and means connecting together said members, said means comprising pivotally connected parts slidable through said sleeve to a position within said hollow portion, stop means for maintaining connection between said parts and said sleeve, an element fixed to the other of said members, said element having a threaded extension adapted to threadedly engage said sleeve when said parts are passed through said sleeve into said hollow portion.

EDMUND J STONE. 

